On Saturday, December 13, a delegation from Chicago which included the Rev. Wilfredo de Jesus, Pastor of New Life Covenant Church, Alderman Billy Ocasio, Chairman of the Chicago City Council Human Relations Committee, Emma Lozano, President of Centro Sin Fronteras, and José E. López, Executive Director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, met with distinguished elected officials and clergy from New York and New Jersey.

The purpose of this meeting, which was hosted by Assemblyman José Rivera at Hostos Community College, was to discuss the campaign to stop the raids, deportations and separation of families due to broken US immigration laws. During this historic gathering, the Chicago delegation presented the model developed by Congressman Luis Gutierrez. The model includes hosting in local churches town hall meetings focused on immigration reform and enlisting US citizens to petition for their undocumented loved ones. These petitions are to be presented to President Elect Barack Obama by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to remind him of his commitment to address the issue of immigration reform within the first 100 days of his administration.

The following prominent clergy, lay leaders and elected officials participated actively in the event: Bishop Dr. Hector Bonano, Bishop D. Timothy Burkett, Rev. Michael Carrion, Rev. Daniel Delgado, Chaplain Ray Fraticelli, Rev. N. J. L’ Heureux Jr., Rev. Ephraim Rivera, Rev. Miguel Rivera, Rev. Dr. Raymond Rivera, Rev. Joshua Rodriguez, Bishop Angelo Rosario, and Rev. Gabriel Salguero. Local elected officials included State Assemblyman Peter Rivera, Maria Rodriguez, Representative of Bronx Assemblyman Nelson Castro, and Melissa Mark Viverito, District 8 Councilwoman. Civic leaders included Jasmine Calvasquin, Daniel Figueroa III Esq, Ralph Morales, Charles Orvall, Dion Powell, and Joel Ray Rivera.

An ad-hoc coordinating committee was created to plan a January 10th, 2009 town hall meeting in New York, similar to one carried out in Chicago. Furthermore, the committee will strategize future work.

A seven-year collaboration between DePaul and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) in Humboldt Park earned top honors from Illinois Campus Compact when it was named winner of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Partnership Foundation Award.
The Irwin W. Steans Center for the community-based Service Learning and the PRCC will share the award’s  $15,000 purse and continue addressing jointly critical health, social and cultural issues affecting Puerto Rican and Latino communities. “The creation and maintenance of a true partnership between a university and a community is an exercise in listening, planning and mutual respect,” says Howard Rosing, Steans’ executive director. That approach was validated by a selection committee of higher education, business, government and community leaders who recognized the beneficial relationship it sustained as they reviewed applications from 14 Illinois Campus Compact members vying for the prestigious Carter Award.

Illinois Campus Compact consists of 42 universities, colleges and their presidents, who are highly committed to service-learning and civic engagement. It’s the state’s affiliate for a national coalition of more than 1,100 institutions that put these values into action.

For several months, Bronx Democratic Party Chairman José Rivera’s legacy has been slandered by two elected officials who have revealed themselves as self-promoters, with no regard for the truth, or the welfare of the people of the Bronx. These elected officials have been so desperate for the control of the Bronx Democratic Party leadership that they have callously portrayed Jose Rivera as anti-black.

When Assemblyman Rivera voted in favor of gay marriage, Reverend Díaz and Assemblyman Díaz Jr. vowed to take revenge. Long time homophobes, the Díazes, are subjecting Assemblyman José Rivera to callous and racially divisive attacks, discrediting themselves in the process.

For the last three decades Assemblyman José Rivera has worked relentlessly as a street activist for the people of the Bronx struggling for jobs, better housing and social justice. A longtime member of the Carpenters’ Union, Assemblyman Rivera is a champion of the working class. In 1975 he founded the United Tremont Trades, and secured jobs for Latino, African-American and White workers in the Bronx. In 1980, the attention of the entire world focused on the inhumane conditions of the South Bronx, through José Rivera’s now legendary “People’s Convention” on Charlotte Street.

Assemblyman Rivera continues to advocate for every development in the Bronx to be built by our construction trade unions. Yankees Stadium was the most recent development where José Rivera has demonstrated his commitment to union labor by demanding union construction and jobs. His efforts have led to thousands of good paying jobs for people of all races and ethnicities.

Yet a lifetime of service and leadership and solidarity with working people has not immunized José Rivera from the effects of a smear campaign engineered by a group of ruthless elected officials. Despite their attempts to destroy José Rivera’s legacy, on September 28th, at the Utopia Paradise Theatre, Bronx Democrats showed their appreciation for José Rivera’s contributions to the people of the Bronx by arriving by feet, car, train and buses to cast their vote. Despite the lies and media attacks, Bronx Democrats made their voices heard and overwhelmingly voted to re-elect Jose Rivera Chairman of the Bronx Democratic Party.

The same unscrupulous elected officials are now challenging the re-election of José Rivera in court.

For more info: Jasmine Clavasquin at ms.jasminclavasquin@gmail.com.

On Saturday, May 24, Ambiente del Paseo held a BBQ fundraiser to launch its new campaign, “Más Color, Más Poder.” Ambiente is a newly formed collective recently launched by the Puerto Rican Cultural Center as one of Humboldt Park’s first LGBTQ organizations. The “Más Color, Más Poder” campaign seeks to raise awareness about and combat homophobia and transphobia in the Humboldt Park community. The May 24 Fundraiser, held at La Casita de Don Pedro and dedicated to the memory of Eric Rice, was a huge success.

Nearly 100 attendees of all ages enjoyed the food, music, performances by contestants in the 2008 Cacica Pageant, raffles, and statements by prominent community members and other officials. José E. Lopez, Executive Director of the Juan Antonio Corretjer Puerto Rican Cultural Center, explained the historic nature of this event to the audience. While the Puerto Rican Cultural Center has a long history of supporting LGBTQ issues, homophobia and transphobia are continuing problems in the Humboldt Park community. The fact that this event was held outdoors at La Casita and attended by people of all ages, including many families, demonstrates the community support that Ambiente enjoys.

In her comments to the audience, Lourdes Lugo, Principal of Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, spoke about the negative effects of homophobia and transphobia on the young people with whom she works. LGBTQ students are oftentimes the most likely to be rejected by their families and thus highly susceptible to dropping out. Rick Garcia, Political Director of Equality Illinois, celebrated the event’s success and reminded the audience of the passing of the non-discrimination bill in 2005, which prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations in the state of Illinois. The “Más Color, Más Poder” campaign will continue throughout 2008.

For more information about Ambiente del Paseo, contact Janeida Rivera at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center: Phone: 773.342.8023 Email: janeidar@prcc-chgo.org.

For the past two years, May 1st has been the day that thousands of people demand the rights of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. This May 1st, nearly 20,000 marched from Union Park to Downtown Chicago. Over 250 Puerto Ricans, including many youth from Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, marched from Humboldt Park. The fleeter march began with a press conference at Adalberto Methodist Church on Paseo Boricua where undocumented mother Flor Crisostomo is in sanctuary.